Gloucestershire's needs

Although Gloucestershire benefits from a high standard of living, this wealth is not evenly distributed and pockets of deprivation do exist. This is a brief summary of Gloucestershire's story, showing where need exists.

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20,643 people (3.4% of the county population) live in deprived areas.

60,579 people (9.9% of the county population) experience barriers to housing and services, especially in the Cotswolds.

7,071 young people aged 0 to 17 (5.7% of the county’s 0 to 17 population) are affected by income deprivation.

8,588 people aged 65 and over (2.4% of the county’s 65+ population) experience income deprivation.

Life expectancy

Males in the least deprived areas of Gloucestershire can expect to live 7.8 years longer than those in the most deprived areas. For females, this gap is 6.3 years. For both genders, this deprivation gap has slightly widened, suggesting that health inequalities are increasing. Educational outcomes are generally in line with or better than the South West and England though the significant attainment gaps for some groups such as Special Educational Needs, Free School Meals, English as an Additional Language and some Black and Minority Ethnic groups continue to be a focus for attention.

The latest data for the suicide rate in the county show it to be significantly higher in Gloucestershire (11.5 per thousand compared to 8.8 nationally) and it is three times as common for males as for females. The number of people with dementia is projected to rise by 2/3rds by 2030.

Health and well-being

24.7% of 4 to 5 year olds carry excess weight, compared with 22.5% nationally. Currently 64% of adults in Gloucestershire are overweight or obese. As of 31st March 2014, there were 2,982 children assessed as children in need . In 2014 there was an estimated 11,360 people aged 18+ with a learning disability living in Gloucestershire. The number of people aged 18+ with a learning disability is forecast to increase to 12,542 people by 2030. This represents an increase of 1,182 people or 10.4%.

Mental health

41,183 people aged 16-74 were estimated to have mixed anxiety and depressive disorders in the county in 2013, 9.36% of the population.8.5% of the people in the county reported themselves as having low happiness and 18.1% with high anxiety in 2013/14.Over 9,000 people aged 65 and over have dementia in Gloucestershire and this is forecast to rise by two thirds to almost 15,000 in 2030. Almost 64% are women. The rate of young people aged 10-24 being admitted to hospital for self-harm in Gloucestershire (406.7 per 100,000) is significantly worse than for England. There were a total of 555 children and young people aged less than 19 years admitted to acute hospital for self-harm between 2009 and 2013. Admissions for young women is much higher than admissions for young men.

Carers

The number of unpaid carers in Gloucestershire has risen by 12% since 2001 and is expected to rise by another 12% to 70,000 by 2017, due mainly to the increasing number of older people. Using 2011 census data we estimate that there are over 1,600 children and young people, aged 17 and younger, providing unpaid care in Gloucestershire.

Education

The gap in achievement levels between those not eligible and those eligible for Free School Meals is widest at either end of the attainment spectrum. The attainment level for pupils who are eligible for Free School Meals was also below the national average at all stages in 2014 with the largest gaps occurring at the Early Years Good Level of Development and KS1 Science stages.